Eliza's POV
"Hello," I said into the phone. I was week seven in Chicago and I felt the most daring I had ever been but I still felt like a big part of me was missing, maybe it was because Nick and I were apart for the longest time, though we spoke a lot.
"Hello," Malcom's voice boomed from the phone. What was missing? It still didn't feel right. "Earth to Elizabeth!"
"Oh hi, I'm so sorry. I drifted." I admitted but what I was not going to tell him was that I missed Lincoln so much I felt incomplete.
Nick's recent confession also didn't help matters, he had mentioned that Lincoln had sought me out three weeks back and it had renewed the love I felt for him deeply.
Malcom was the nicest and most patient with me but I didn't feel the spark that I always felt with Linc.
"A penny for your thoughts?" He teased and I laughed.
"I am beginning to show and I am reconsidering this dress I have on." I lied and it was his turn to laugh now. I stood up and dusted the table top out of mere idleness. In a good five minutes Miss Tilly would start drumming on my door asking me to go on errands for her.
"You looked beautiful the last time I saw you, I don't doubt you will look less now." He joked and I giggled, he occasionally came around to my place and sometimes he even accompanied me to the clinic.
It had been dramatic how we had met again, it was at the hospital's packing lot and I had dropped my water bottle. For some reason, I hadn't been able to bend and lick the bottle, he had dramatically swooped it up and handed it over to me.
After which he insisted I gave him my number, I had and this was the fourth time we were going to be meeting. I found it strange that he would accept me, a pregnant spouseless woman but he did and he was currently 'love bombing' me.
"Don't start Mac, how do I explain to my crank landlady that I'm a pregnant woman who has pregnancy sickness sometimes and can't get off my bed."
"I think you should just say, 'you're a pregnant woman who has pregnancy sickness sometimes and can't get off her bed' that would be rather straightforward right?" He asked and I laughed.
"I like straightforward." I felt good, he made me feel good and at peace, his love lacked the butterflies in the stomach, yes, but I felt at peace.
"Then let me say this, I really really like you and I want to see you in a red dress across the seat from me on a date next Sunday." He said and my eyes widened in surprise and even more love bombing.
"I have to admit, Mr Dinero, that was rather smooth. So smooth I'm forced to spend an evening conversing idly with you." I teased and his deep belly rumbling chuckle echoed from the other side of the phone.
"I've heard I'm really good at love. Let me teach you what it should look like." He murmured and I reclined, laying down on the student bed I had in my room.
"Tempting offer, but I think this baby is rolling over at the sound of it, she may be a romantic." I gasped dramatically and it was another bout of laughter.
"I don't think you actually have plans to meet today, you sound a little tired." He observed and I was in fact tired. I had started a halfway cleaning session and it was Sunday I was supposed to meet for the weekly barbecue at Ana's house.
"Honestly? I am. Can we postpone it?" I finally said and he was quiet.
"I wouldn't want to stress you, I'll talk to you later." He replied and I heaved a deep sigh of relief when the call ended.
Tonight was for my feelings, for me to mop and for me to watch one of my old soap operas. I went over to my door and made sure it was extra jammed, but the demons chasing me were not outside my door, they had a free room rooted in the pit of my stomach and I couldn't brush them off my mind.
My phone dinged and it was a message from Nick, he sent a Goodnight text and made sure I was alright. There was an unread DM from Malcolm and I responded to it. Together with a picture I took of myself earlier, I knew he was going to send something flattery and it was one of the things that kind of kept me feeling positive about myself.
Memories of when Nick would say knee weakening things while making love to me, I wanted that more than any 'you look cute pumpkin pie' but he still found me attractive whilst I was carrying a child that isn't his.
'Dream of me ;)' I replied and he sent a laughing emoji.
I put on the tv and microwaved some popcorn before settling on the couch to binge watch the series.
I've spent the last week going from store to store seeking vacancies, only one had seemed promising, it was a flower shop and I was going to check on it later again to make sure I present all my qualifications, I was so bored of staying home alone, it was already two months since I left New York.
My phone beeped again and I had to pause my Mexican show to check who it was from, it was a new number and the message flashing across the screen brought a certain chill to my body.
'I found you, watch your back'
I stared at the screen in horror and a new found fear as the hair on my skin stood straight, I wanted to scream in fear and throw the phone away, maybe I was being paranoid but I immediately ran to close all doors in the house, maybe the demons never really leave.